This story was adapted from a City of Concord news release, with additional information provided by the Cabarrus Arts Council.
More than 90 local artists and makers will fill the streets of downtown Concord next weekend as Art Walk on Union returns for an afternoon of art, live music, food and more.
The free, family-friendly festival will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, with artist and vendor booths lining Union Street between the Concord Library and Corban Avenue.
Visitors will have an opportunity to browse and purchase works from local artists and makers while also exploring downtown businesses and The Galleries at the Cabarrus Arts Council.
For participating artists, the event also provides an opportunity to meet the people who encounter — and potentially take home — their work.
“Art Walk on Union is such a wonderful opportunity to connect with the community and share the work we create by hand,” said Rosa Murillo of Muro Jewelry. “As an artist, I love being able to meet the people who connect with my work, hear their stories, and be part of an event that celebrates creativity and supports local artists and makers. There’s something really special about seeing the entire community come together around art.”
That local connection is also part of the appeal for Aaryn Nutter of Aaryn West.
“As an artist and small business owner, Art Walk on Union is always one of my favorite events of the year,” Nutter said. “Being a resident of Cabarrus County, it’s one of the most exciting opportunities I have to connect with local customers and other businesses right in my own backyard.”
Artist Larry Byrns said the conversations that take place during Art Walk on Union can make sharing his work a more personal experience.
“I thoroughly enjoy the Cabarrus Art Walk on Union, because it’s a chance for me to talk with people who want to know more about the art that I produce,” Byrns said. “Being able to share thoughts and stories about what I’ve made makes everything feel much more personal than if I had something on display and wasn’t able to interact with someone who wanted to know more.”
Art won’t be the only attraction during Saturday’s festival.
Live music will be featured throughout the event on a stage along Union Street North near the Concord Library. Scott Lowder will perform from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., followed by Patricia Joyce from 2 to 4 p.m.
Food trucks will be stationed along Cabarrus Avenue between Union and Church streets. Visitors can also purchase alcoholic beverages from participating businesses and breweries within downtown Concord’s social district. Outside alcohol is not permitted.
The festival will extend beyond Union Street with the return of a free shuttle connecting downtown Concord with ClearWater Arts Center & Studios.
The shuttle will run every 15 minutes, with pickup and drop-off on Barbrick Avenue.
At ClearWater, visitors can explore the “Wild Paint: Adventures in Abstraction” exhibition currently on display in the main gallery, meet some of the center’s tenant artists and see more of their work.
Art Walk on Union comes as downtown Concord has recently received some national attention. Parade magazine included Concord on its list of “14 Charming Small Towns That Feel Straight Out of Stars Hollow,” a reference to the fictional Connecticut town at the center of the television series Gilmore Girls.
Visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs for the live music, and dogs are permitted as long as they are kept on leashes. Public restrooms will be available on Cabarrus Avenue and at Rotary Square.
Free parking will be available at the Municipal Parking Deck, Cabarrus County Parking Deck, Bicentennial Lot and the Cabarrus County lot on Church Street.
Several downtown streets will close to accommodate the festival. Cabarrus Avenue between Market and Church streets and Union Street between Corban Avenue and the Concord Library will be closed from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
Art Walk on Union is presented by the Cabarrus Arts Council and the City of Concord and sponsored by Uwharrie Bank and Fifth Third Bank.
For more information visit artwalkonunion.org.